Brooklin is one of the 9 Maine towns in the regional age-friendly initiative called Age-Friendly Coastal Communities (AFCC).  AFCC is a collaboration among the 9 towns of the Blue Hill Peninsula (Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Surry) and Deer Isle (Deer Isle and Stonington), in the state of Maine in the United States.  AFCC also includes many of the health care, social service, and community-based organizations that serve this area.  The goal of the age-friendly collaboration is to support livable communities, which are communities that enhance personal independence, allow people to remain in their homes and communities as they age; and foster engagement in the community’s civic, economic, and social life. AFCC is coordinated by Healthy Peninsula, a community health agency with many years experience convening and coordinating complex community collaborations.  Healthy Peninsula’s Healthy Aging Program Coordinator is the contact for all town members of AFCC.

After a six month planning process, Brookline submitted its application to join the network in the fall of 2012. A major action agenda is dissemination of information about Brookline’s strong existing age-friendly features. The initiative is developing more specific initiatives in the following areas: health and human services, housing, library, public safety, parks, recreation, property tax relief for seniors, transportation, and participation. The initiative is a collaboration among the Town of Brookline, the Brookline Council on Aging, and BrooklineCAN, a membership organization that serves older residents. The initiative is coordinated by a committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen. More than ten Town departments and boards and commissions are involved.

In 2013, the initiative had significant accomplishments in housing, transportation, low-vision access, parks, and dissemination of health information. In 2014, the initiative has continued with the development of interventions involving housing, transportation, health, parks, recreation, public safety, and financial security. The initiative continues to emphasize dissemination of information.